The Engel group (A-4311 Schwertberg; www.engel.at), a leading machinery manufacturer, has reported a “significant growth in sales” for the 2004/2005 financial year, which ended on 31 March. Sales rose 8.9% to EUR 586.3m, whereby growth was affected negatively by the dollar/euro exchange rate. Europe accounted for the lion´s share of Engel´s sales last year. As in 2004, growth came from a few strong key markets, especially Germany, Austria and Italy, but also from the new EU member states and Russia. Business in Asia did not meet expectations, while North America registered a “slight recovery.”

The number of machines sold worldwide rose from 2,700 in 2003/2004 to 3,000. Management was particularly pleased with sales figures for small and medium-sized machines with a clamping force up to 6,000 kN. Nevertheless, all-electric machines, machines for PET preform injection moulding, rubber processing machines and multi-colour and multi-com- ponent machines all contributed to growth.

“Compared with Q4 2004, the number of incoming orders was down significantly in Q1 2005,” said Georg Tinschert, spokesman for the management team at Engel Austria (A-4311 Schwertberg), explaining the group´s rather subdued forecast for the current financial year. If capital spending in the plastics industry remains at the current low level, there will be little chance of a similar rise this year, he said. Nevertheless, he said the aim is to at least maintain sales achieved in 2004/2005. The company expects increases in the new EU states and in America and Asia.

Engel has major capital spending plans at home as well as in Asia. In Schwertberg, a new technology and training centre is to be built, and preparatory work has already begun on building the company´s first Asian plant for large machines in Shanghai, where production is set to begin in mid-2006. The Austrian group also wants to increase its presence in the growing Polish market, and has begun building a new sales and service facility at Warsaw.